February 13th, 2013
"It's a sin, I tell you. A sin!"
Draco was laughing. He was with Theo walking through a lovesick Diagon Alley. It was filled to the brim with floating hearts, cannonball shots of heart-shaped confetti, and little charmed cherubs zooming through the air and shooting harmless arrows at people. Wizards loved Valentine's Day. It was a charms fest with love feels sprouted everywhere. Draco now realized why he had forgotten this stomach-churning holiday was coming. Without Theo, his son, or Hermione present, Draco's go-to was muggle London and surrounding areas. Although they, too, indulged in Valentine's Day decorations and trinkets, it wasn't as ostentatious as in the wizarding world. Nothing flew at you. Nothing shot at you. Nothing sang to you either, unless you counted those cards with the metal lumpy thing with wires embedded.
The only reason Draco was in Diagon Alley now was because Theo was desperately trying to find a Valentine's Day and birthday gift for his girlfriend Franny. Contrary to how it had looked, Theo hadn't waited until last minute. He was actually very picky when it came to gifts and had been looking for a month. Considering the "sin" of having her birthday on this romantic holiday, he was being even more picky than usual.
"I already told you to buy her lingerie," Draco said nonchalantly as he followed Theo into yet another storefront. "Then you both can enjoy the day."
"And I already told you that lingerie is the gift of a desperate man."
"Are you not desperate?"
Theo stopped to think about it for minute and then shrugged. "Somewhat."
Draco shook his head at him and continued giving his two cents on what would be considered a good versus bad gift. At this rate they'd end up buying lingerie anyway.
"So," Theo drawled maliciously as he combed through store shelves. "You're not a frantic mess like I am. Can I rightly assume that you have Ms. Weasley's Valentine's Day gift already?"
"I decided to make her something, not buy."
Theo fumbled an orb he had in his hand and caught it before it shattered to the floor.
"You're serious?" Theo questioned. "I was expecting you to fight me on how she wasn't your girlfriend. Is she?"
Draco chuckled. "She's still just a friend, Theo, but Weasley died four days before Valentine's Day. I wanted to cheer her up."
"Huh, that's very nice of you."
Draco shrugged. "You didn't see her on her husband's death day. She needs this."
Theo frowned. "That bad, is it? You'd reckon she'd be okay after a year. You'd think the man died yesterday."
"Well, that just goes to show that love doesn't give two rat's arses about time."
"Poetic, Draco," Theo snorted. "Really poetic… You should take up writing greeting cards."
"Ha ha."
February 14th, 2013
Hermione had gotten up extra early this morning, taken Rose to the Young Wizards' Learning Center and Hugo to her parents', and then went straight off to work. She'd been doing that all week to keep negative thoughts at bay. With this past Sunday making it one year that Ron had been gone, she'd been waking up feeling…off. It was both in a good and bad way. Good, in the sense that a few months ago she would wake up in a crying fit. Bad, because she wasn't doing that anymore and she hated the idea that she was coping without her husband. It also didn't help that Valentine's Day had been fast approaching. And so, because of these conflicting emotions, she dove into her work as soon as she could to rid herself of the guilt.
Around noon there was a knock on her office door. She expected Harry or Ginny, but was surprised, yet not really, to find Draco entering her domain.
Hermione set down her quill. "Do my eyes deceive me? Is Draco Malfoy actually knocking on my door instead of barging in?"
"My apologies," Draco said as he put a hand on the doorknob. "Should I walk back out and do it my way?"
The brunette laughed and shook her head. "Just sit down, Malfoy."
"No time, I'm afraid. I just came down here to ask you a question."
"A question?" Hermione asked with a raised brow. "You came all the way here to ask me a question?"
"Yes, but I have every intention of pursuing my inquiry whether your answer is yes or no," Draco smiled.
It went beyond saying that she was intrigued, not to mention amused by his brashness. Hermione took a deep breath and leaned back in her seat.
"Alright, Malfoy. What's your question?"
"Let me ask a pre-question first," he told her as he set his hands on the rim of his pockets. "We're friends, right?"
"Yes, we are."
"Well, in that case and in light of the current holiday, would it be appropriate for me to take you to lunch?"
It took a moment for Hermione to think of what holiday today was until she saw the calendar on her desk. She had done so well in blocking it out that she had actually forgotten until now. She turned back to Draco quickly.
"Valentine's Day? You want to take me out for Valentine's Day? Why?"
"Honestly? I figured you might need a bit of cheering up today."
Hermione's gaze softened. She suddenly felt so flustered that she hoped that she wasn't turning red. Judging by Draco's smirk she realized that she had failed in that regard.
"Thank you," she said a bit shyly, "but I'd rather not celebrate it."
"Fair enough," Draco nodded. "However, you've still got to eat. So, up on your feet you go."
Hermione blinked rapidly as Draco stood at the side of her desk and waited for her to move. She was struck speechless, but she was also on the brink of laughter.
"This is the pursuing of your inquiry portion of this talk, isn't it?"
"Correct."
"And you're not going to leave my office until I say yes, aren't you?"
"Two for two, Miss Granger."
Hermione finally laughed. "Merlin, you're relentless. Fine, I'll get my cloak and we can-"
"You won't need it," Draco said. "One apparation away and we're good to go."
Again, the witch was floored.
"A-alright then."
Hermione got up from her seat, grabbed her bag, and followed Draco out of her office. Apparation wasn't allowed in anyone's office, and so they had to leave it and head to designated apparation spots placed conveniently at the end of every floor operational during lunch hours only.
Once there Hermione latched onto Draco's arm and two seconds later they had reached their destination. She was instantly confused as she looked around her.
"This is your house."
Draco nodded as she let him go and he led the way through the house and into the dining room.
"Very astute. Next thing you know you'll say that my eyes are grey," Draco snickered.
Hermione was about to berate him, but instead she instantly shut her mouth. They had made it to the dining room and she was stunned. It was outfitted with wine and several dishes including pasta, mashed potatoes, a whole chicken with slices of breast already cut, and what appeared to be cheesecake.
"I thought we were going to a restaurant?"
"We could have," Draco admitted, "but restaurants will have decorations, sappy music, and obnoxiously loving couples. At least here it's just food."
Hermione ripped her eyes away from the splendid display and, without warning, threw her arms around Draco. Luckily for him he had good balance so they didn't fall.
"You didn't have to do this," Hermione told him, her voice muffled in his chest. She looked up and smiled broadly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Draco he replied as he observed her pleasant face. Her very happy, non-worry laden face. It was always a calm to him when she was like this and a downright displeasure when she wasn't.
"I'm impressed," Hermione said after she let him go and went to sit down at the table. "You haven't been cooking very long and you managed to do all this?"
"I could lie and say yes, but I didn't," he answered honestly. He sat down across from her and waved his wand so that the food could start portioning itself out. "I know my limits and this," he gestured to everything, "would've been a disaster. I hired someone."
Hermione nearly choked. "You hired someone? Damn it, Malfoy. You do realize that you're making it terribly difficult to give you any sort of gift in the future, right?"
Draco went incredibly smug at that and folded his hands under his chin. "Oh, I'm sure you can think of something. You've got four months until my birthday."
"Four months of present-searching hell, you mean. Have I ever told you how much I hate looking for gifts?"
"Sounds like you and Theo should talk," Draco laughed. "I was with him yesterday running into every storefront trying to help him find a gift for his girlfriend. Aside from the holiday, it's also her birthday."
"Poor Theo," Hermione giggled. "What did he end up getting?"
"Lingerie."
Hermione gave one slow blink. "I'm sorry?"
"Lingerie," Draco repeated with a mischievous tone. "You know, lacy? Thin? Usually leaves nothing to the imagination?"
"I didn't need a description, thank you," Hermione replied and promptly began eating with the hopes of keeping her reddening cheeks at bay. Draco noticed regardless and was highly amused.
"Does talking about undergarments make you uncomfortable?" He asked calmly, taking a bite of his food as he did so. Hermione paused mid-chew to stare at him, but continued, and then swallowed before answering.
"First and foremost, lingerie is not an undergarment. They're so thin as you say that they feel like nothing. You'd might as well be going commando. That's always been my experience anyway. Are you okay?"
Draco's food went down the wrong pipe as he ate, and then he promptly knocked over his wine. Hermione quickly refilled his glass and watched him as he drank half to clear away the obstruction. The brunette analyzed all of this and couldn't help her own mischievous nature and leaned back in her chair.
"Does talking about my experiences wearing lingerie make you uncomfortable, Malfoy?"
Draco snapped his eyes to her and shook his head. Despite the betrayal of his thoughts attempting to imagine her in such nightwear, he continued to say, "No. No, no, I'm fine."
"Mhmm… This lunch is nice, but making you fluster tops it."
Draco huffed. "You're a mean witch."
"Consider it karma," Hermione replied and laughed as her lunch companion pouted like a child. This had truly shaped up to be a nice Valentine's Day.
March 3rd, 2013
Hermione could cry. Hugo was five today. Five. And with his age came the opportunity to go to school with Rose. The Young Wizard's Learning Center didn't operate with a conventional cut off time for registering students although they did adhere to summer holiday. And so, in two weeks' time he'll be learning to develop and control his childhood magic as well as anything else a child his age would learn in school.
To commemorate Hugo's big day Hermione's house was filled to the brim with people. Between the Granger and the Weasley families (including everyone's offspring), every corner was stuffed with someone. Luckily Arthur, Bill, Charlie, and George were out in the backyard putting up Warming Charms. It was still cold out and not very conducive to an outdoor affair without them.
It was five-thirty and the party had been in full blast since four. Hugo was having the time of his life and was even more enthusiastic when his favorite friend showed up.
"Happy Birthday, Hugo!" Scorpius greeted with a box that was bigger than him in his hands. Hermione chuckled as she turned to Draco who was standing behind his son.
"Weightless Charm?"
"Naturally," Draco replied as he looked down lovingly at his son. "He insisted on carrying it."
"Thanks, Scorpius!" Hugo said happily and took the box from him. There was a huge stack of gifts waiting to be opened and both boys trudged off to it.
Hermione watched them for a bit before addressing Draco again. Without his son with him she noticed how he was passing glances at everyone and, she couldn't not notice, how everyone was giving glances in return.
"Warming Charms should be up in the backyard by now," Hermione informed him. "Want to go? Something tells me that you're not in for a Weasley fest."
Draco felt himself blushing, but nodded just the same. Hermione led the way without a word through the crowd containing both sides of her family. The Granger side was very interested in who this blond man was trailing after their not-so-little Hermione. And the Weasley side, who were all privvy to the fact that Draco's son and Hermione's children were friends, were curious as to why they were wandering off alone. All except Harry and Ginny, Potters yet Weasleys by extension, who gave each other inquiring looks among themselves.
"You could have just dropped Scorpius off, you know," Hermione said as they sat down. She had a long couch that could be used as a swing on the back porch. It was her favorite place to be when the weather was good.
"I could have," Draco agreed. "But Scorpius would've had a permanent pout if I didn't stay. Besides, I wanted to come."
"Well, would you look at that," she teased. "Sacrificing your dignity for a little boy's birthday."
Draco shrugged and cupped his hands. "Some things are worth the sacrifice, don't you think?"
Hermione beamed at him and nodded. "Yes, I think so. I'll have to return the sacrifice when it's Scorpius' birthday. When is it?"
"Next month on the twenty-eighth. Although, I don't think I'll subject you to the interrogation or the thinly veiled insults. You've suffered enough at my hand alone, so there's no need to add to it."
"The insults I get, but the interrogation?"
"Ah yes, I never told you, did I?" Draco crossed his arms and grinned. He looked like he had a juicy story to tell and Hermione wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it or not. But curiosity and all that…
"Told me what?" Hermione asked warily.
"Well, you remember my wife's feelings towards you?"
Hermione laughed. "That I'm sleeping with you? Yes, go on."
"My parents hold the same belief, and I've been questioned on it twice by now."
"Excuse me?" Hermione gasped. "Where on earth have they gotten that idea?"
"Nothing more than the fact that you're my friend," Draco said nonchalantly. "Although a pulled Valentine's Day spread on us gave my father a bit more ammunition."
Hermione craned her neck forward as though that would make her hear better and automatically make Draco repeat what he had just said.
"There was a Valentine's Day spread of us?"
Draco nodded. "Daily Prophet. Photographs too, although I haven't the foggiest idea how they got them. We've been followed quite a bit."
"Merlin," Hermione frowned. "I hope this doesn't push your divorce back."
"No one in the public eye saw it, so it's fine," he waved lazily. "We'll just have to be a bit more careful. That's all."
At that Hermione started to laugh. Draco was confused as he hadn't said anything funny, or so he thought. When she was done with the chuckle fest (and wiping the corners of her eyes with her fingers), she finally clued him in on the joke.
"I've heard about couples sneaking about, but friends? It's absolutely absurd."
"Agreed," Draco replied with an incline of his head. "But I think it's safe to say nothing involving us has ever been normal."
"You're very right."
A new voice cleared his throat out on the porch and the conversing pair looked up to find George standing not too far off with a cheeky expression.
"Oh, Ms. Weasley, your son is dying to cut his cake but can't find his mother."
Hermione sighed contentedly and got up from her seat. "Yes, alright. Let's go give the birthday boy his cake."
Hermione took the lead back into the house. Draco had stood up just as she had and eyed the man who was watching his every move.
"Something to say, Weasley?" Draco asked. George, not detecting any malice from the blond as he had expected, shook his head.
"Nothing, nothing at all," George answered in a mischievous manner. "Just play nice with our Hermione."
Draco stopped dead in his tracks at that while George walked off with a hum and his hands in his pockets. When Draco finally made it into the house everyone was crowded about in the kitchen while Hugo was sitting at the head of the table with a cake in front of him and five candles. Despite the cramped area, somehow he had ended up standing next to Ginny. She was holding her daughter who had grown significantly since seeing her at Rose's chess tournament last October.
"Harry told me what you did," Ginny said suddenly. It was a surprise to Draco that he was able to hear her considering the singing going on around them. "With Hermione and the cemetery last month?"
"Oh, that," Draco just shrugged. "She needed it."
"Apparently so. If I'm to be honest, you're the last person I would think of to know what she needs."
Draco let those words sink in. He was watching her now, Hermione, as she gave Hugo the first slice of cake and kissed him on the cheek. They hugged then, and it was sweet enough to cause a stomach ache.
"I guess I just view her differently than you do."
Ginny stared at him from her periphery before letting her lips turn upwards. "You don't say…"
"And," Draco added, this time fully turning to the redheaded woman. "Speaking of what Granger needs, I need to ask you and your husband for a favor."
Author's note: Draco is too thoughtful for his own good and now I have really high expectations for my future husband *sigh* Thanks for reading everyone!
-WP
Replies to Guests
LittleTrooper99: I'm ALL up for cookies. And yes, Draco here is absolutely amazing. I wish he was real lol.
Elvire: I love your review! Draco is classic in his pushiness, but it's exactly what Hermione needs even if she doesn't want it. As Draco said, forget what she wants. It's what she needs. I love the fact that it's him, of all people, to make that call :)
mega700201: You're welcome!
Karlie: That's the thing about grief. It's okay to do it, but don't let it hold you down while you're doing it.
Guest1: "West Norwood Cemetery" Omg, that's such a coincidence! Small world, huh lol? And yes, if Harry can see it, but not Hermione, wow that denial is strong! LOL. She'll come around eventually ;)
professor malfoy: I've always loved that penname :D. Thanks for your reviews! I agree that a lot of Dramione stories tend to go the Ron-bashing route, and I can attest that it's very easy to fall into that trap. Here, Hermione is just someone who truly loved her husband. His memory stays within the entirety of the story it's almost like he's still alive.